The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted San Francisco, California-based Bone Health Technologies its second patent for its OsteoBoost vibration belt.
Osteoporosis Company Lands Second Patent
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Secondary#osteoboost#osteoporisis
Bone Health Technologies develops therapies to improve bone health. It focuses on developing health solutions for individuals at risk for osteopenia (the precursor to osteoporosis) and osteoporosis.
Bone Health Technologies designed the OsteoBoost vibration belt to treat osteopenia and prevent osteoporosis. The company based OsteoBoost on NASA research indicating that vibration stimulating bones improves bone health.
According to the company, the apparatus “applies gentle mechanical stimulation to the hips and spine to reduce bone loss and encourage bone growth.” To use, patients attach the vibration belt around their waist and press the power button. Treatment typically lasts 30 minutes. According to the company, patients can use it daily or at least four days per week “for full treatment effect.”
The newest patent includes the device’s tracking and reporting features. According to the press release, the patent also covers “a wearable apparatus for treating or preventing osteoporosis.”
OTW spoke with Bone Health Technologies CEO Laura Yecies about the device’s reporting features. Yecies told OTW, “Remote monitoring and reporting is being increasingly recognized as an important part of improving patient care and optimizing outcomes. With the reporting features combined with our unique device, clinicians will be able to understand compliance and utilization patterns for the patient and support them in achieving an optimal outcome.”
Yecies continued, “Of course no device will work if you don’t use it and with our combined app and device we give patients and their doctors the tools they need to improve their results.”
This announcement follows the company’s successful $2.5 million oversubscribed funding round and its appointment of three board members. For OTW’s coverage of these recent accomplishments, see “Osteoporosis Company Lands $2.5M Funding, Adds to BOD.”
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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